Story: Street life

Hello sailor!

Hello sailor!

Being a prostitute was not illegal in colonial society. However, under the Vagrant Act 1866 prostitutes could be charged with acting in a riotous or shocking manner in a public place. This happened to Wellingtonian Ellen Butcher in 1867. In this report it is unclear on what basis she was charged – whether it was for wearing a sailor’s suit or running away.

Using this item

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: Daily Southern Cross, 5 January 1867, p. 5

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Ben Schrader, 'Street life - Street trade and people, 1840–1914', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20673/hello-sailor (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 11 Mar 2010